Poilievre says Conservatives won’t change medical assistance in dying laws

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says if his party forms government it will keep Canada’s medical assistance in dying regime intact, but won’t expand it.

Medical assistance in dying was legalized in 2016 by the Liberal government for people whose deaths were reasonably foreseeable.

The law was passed after the Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that banning medically assisted deaths infringed on Canadians’ Charter rights.

Since a review of the law in 2021, Canadians who suffer from a grievous and irremediable medical condition are able to apply for a medically assisted death, whether their death is reasonably foreseeable or not.

Health Canada is currently reviewing whether to allow people to make an advance request for medical assistance in dying, something that advocates say would help people with conditions like dementia.

Poilievre says a Conservative government would ensure Canadians have the right to choose a medically assisted death but will not expand the law to include advance directives.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2025.

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press

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